Lindsay Heckmann Dr. Fogleman EDC 102 H September 22, 2011 Mrs. O'Connor Her name was Mrs. O’Connor. She had been teaching at John Brown Elementary for years and my class was one of her last. Mrs. O’Connor was stern, effective, and to the point when it came to her lessons, unlike some instructors at this school. I walked away from her 5th grade classroom taking with me so much new information and skills than when I entered. Mrs. O’Conner’s teaching was my most memorable early child hood experience.
In 4th grade, there was new teacher that had just started. Her name was Mrs. Carbone. I adored her at first, the whole year consisted completing easy worksheets and playing board-games after. My favorite was checkers. I would rush through all my handouts and book work just so I could try and beat my regular opponents, Pavel and Garrett. I received semi-good grades, nothing too special and was content with them. However, I was in for a rude awakening when I reached the 5th grade; the material was much more challenging than 4th grade work. There were situations where I was expected to recall information I should have learned the year before and I couldn’t. The multiplication-table became my enemy, and we would not become friends until much later in the year.
I realized that maybe Mrs. Carbone’s easy-going class wasn’t the best thing for me when I received my first and only D+ in mathematics. I was shocked and my parents were very upset. They complained “your sister never had this much trouble, what’s wrong?!” I didn’t know what to do or how to improve so I turned to Mrs. O’Connor for help. I said “Mrs. O’Connor this stuff is so hard! I’ll never be able to remember the times-table!” and she responded with “Can you remember your friends phone numbers?” “Yes,” I said. “Then you can remember your multiplication-table.” It was from that day on that I was determined to vastly improve that D+ by fourth quarter if it killed me.
With Mrs. O’Connors help, encouragement, and great teaching methods I was able to take that D+ and turn it into an A- by the end of 5th grade. It is one thing to be successful form the beginning, it is another feeling completely to work hard and improve to become successful. I even remember the sequence of my math grade from quarter to quarter. I received the D+, B, B+ and then an A-. I will never forget how truly satisfied I felt taking that final report card home to my parents to show off my improvement. Words cannot describe the sense of fulfillment that washed over me that day. It felt like runners-high, as I if I was on top of the world and could accomplish whatever I was faced with.
After receiving the report card I immediately approached Mrs. O’Connor to thank her for helping me and taking the extra time I needed to understand the material. I was jumping up and down with excitement, and my orange backpack was filled with the contents of my desk, almost knocking my over. She said “It wasn’t me sweat-heart, you put in the work to get that grade, you should be proud of yourself.” At that moment I knew I would never forget this amazing woman that taught so effectively that even I could master the multiplication table. I hopped on bus #8 and went home, sad that the 5th grade had finally come to an end.
Lindsay Heckmann
Dr. Fogleman
EDC 102 H
September 22, 2011
Mrs. O'Connor
Her name was Mrs. O’Connor. She had been teaching at John Brown Elementary for years and my class was one of her last. Mrs. O’Connor was stern, effective, and to the point when it came to her lessons, unlike some instructors at this school. I walked away from her 5th grade classroom taking with me so much new information and skills than when I entered. Mrs. O’Conner’s teaching was my most memorable early child hood experience.
In 4th grade, there was new teacher that had just started. Her name was Mrs. Carbone. I adored her at first, the whole year consisted completing easy worksheets and playing board-games after. My favorite was checkers. I would rush through all my handouts and book work just so I could try and beat my regular opponents, Pavel and Garrett. I received semi-good grades, nothing too special and was content with them. However, I was in for a rude awakening when I reached the 5th grade; the material was much more challenging than 4th grade work. There were situations where I was expected to recall information I should have learned the year before and I couldn’t. The multiplication-table became my enemy, and we would not become friends until much later in the year.
I realized that maybe Mrs. Carbone’s easy-going class wasn’t the best thing for me when I received my first and only D+ in mathematics. I was shocked and my parents were very upset. They complained “your sister never had this much trouble, what’s wrong?!” I didn’t know what to do or how to improve so I turned to Mrs. O’Connor for help. I said “Mrs. O’Connor this stuff is so hard! I’ll never be able to remember the times-table!” and she responded with “Can you remember your friends phone numbers?” “Yes,” I said. “Then you can remember your multiplication-table.” It was from that day on that I was determined to vastly improve that D+ by fourth quarter if it killed me.
With Mrs. O’Connors help, encouragement, and great teaching methods I was able to take that D+ and turn it into an A- by the end of 5th grade. It is one thing to be successful form the beginning, it is another feeling completely to work hard and improve to become successful. I even remember the sequence of my math grade from quarter to quarter. I received the D+, B, B+ and then an A-. I will never forget how truly satisfied I felt taking that final report card home to my parents to show off my improvement. Words cannot describe the sense of fulfillment that washed over me that day. It felt like runners-high, as I if I was on top of the world and could accomplish whatever I was faced with.
After receiving the report card I immediately approached Mrs. O’Connor to thank her for helping me and taking the extra time I needed to understand the material. I was jumping up and down with excitement, and my orange backpack was filled with the contents of my desk, almost knocking my over. She said “It wasn’t me sweat-heart, you put in the work to get that grade, you should be proud of yourself.” At that moment I knew I would never forget this amazing woman that taught so effectively that even I could master the multiplication table. I hopped on bus #8 and went home, sad that the 5th grade had finally come to an end.